I'm going to start posting this story next week. Sorry, not now. I can only type more chapters when my exams are done, which is next friday. Hope that someone would read it! I'll be joining Animax's writing contest with that story, just a tryout. Not really expecting to win it. Anywayz, thanks for even reading this!

[Oh and... Don't worry. I'll continue posting Perpetual's chapters as well.]

Chapter i…
…Rendezvous

“Ms. Aryth!” Her nana called out for her from the outside of her room. “Ms. Aryth, are you in there?” She repeated her name once more, but yet, no reply still. “Ms. Aryth, I’m coming in!” Sophia opens the door, only to see the room has no Aryth. “Not again, Ms. Aryth! That girl… Where has she gone to this time?” said Sophia, who is supposed to be Aryth’s personal maid as well.

The room is big, for a one-person bedroom. It’s around the size of two standard classrooms, and colored in blue. There is a bed, king-sized and a table with birthday cards she received from people and books all around. A cushion can be seen too, right beside the door of her room. A plasma television is just right in front of the cushion, on the wall. But, the room was messy, with newspaper articles and printed papers all around the floor.

There is a small staircase to a higher part of the room, where her computer is situated. Aryth is currently using her computer, surfing the internet, chatting as well.

“I’m here, Sophia…” Aryth said, half of her mind focusing on the computer screen. “Can you answer me next time when I called out for you?” Sophia had a slight tone of impatient. “I did, didn’t I? I told you I’m here.” Still, Aryth’s eyes are locked on the monitor of her computer.

The maid sighed heavily, while turning to see the papers on the floor. She began tidying them up, and puts them together in a pack. “Do you still want this?” Sophia takes up a small paper with drawings on it. There is a fountain in the center of the picture, and trees everywhere. There is also a walking lane, just like something we could see in parks, but the one in the drawing is so much more beautiful.

Sophia had always been a fan of Aryth’s drawings. She knew that Aryth loves to explorer things, especially places. She is always the one who would tell Aryth of the places there are in the world when Aryth was small. Those places used to be her bedtime stories. But now, Aryth wants more. She began looking into internet and newspaper, to see if there are any articles about places in the world. Her dream of becoming an explorer, unfortunately, cannot be fulfilled. Due to her father’s strictness and her mother’s paranoid attitude, she seldom gets to go out of the house.

The only way she could know more, is by the mass media.

“No, no.” Aryth wasn’t thinking when she said that. “Are you sure? ‘Cause I do think that this is a masterpiece.” Aryth frowns and immediately crawled towards beside the stairs and looks downwards. She blushes instantly. “So-Sophia! Don’t look at that! Th-That’s…!” Aryth quickly rushes down from the upper part of the room to Sophia. She took the paper from her and quickly keeps it. Her blush still remains, as she is shy of someone looking at something she made out.

“You don’t have to hide your talent, Ms. Aryth. You don’t have to hide your drawings away.” Sophia said, with a slight smile, while putting the pack of papers on her table. “You don’t understand, Sophia.” Aryth turns and walks out of the room, with her face covered by her short white hair. Sophia looks at her shadow, and sighs for her.

Aryth walks to the kitchen, finding something to be her lunch. Annette enters the kitchen as well, and turns to her daughter while smiling. “Dear, are you hungry?” Aryth could hear her mother’s voice, but never turns to her at all. “Dear, what’s wrong?” asked Annette again. Aryth takes a slice of plain bread, and walks out of the kitchen. Annette stood there, saddened by her daughter’s reaction of her presence.

In the hallway, Aryth meets with her father, the president of the country. “Aryth, what is that attitude towards your mother? Have you no manners? How can a 16-year-old girl like you behave that way?! Answer me, Aryth! And, who gave you the permission to exit this house the day before yesterday, huh?! Henry told me everything so you better start explaining!”

Aryth ignores her father’s words, and walks passed him. Edward did give a few yelling towards Aryth when she is walking to her room, but she acts as if no one’s there.

As Aryth enters the room, Sophia wasn’t in the room anymore. She bites the bread, and climbs up the stairs in her room. She sits down in front of her computer, and began typing the keyboard. After finished typing the URL of the website she wants to enter, her hand reaches to her bread, as she chews on the small bite of bread in her mouth.

She enters the forum, and logs in into her account. She searches for new posted messages, and saw one entitled ‘Can my life be any worse?’

The title got her attention, as she clicks on that post. She enters and reads the posted message.

‘My step-mom is a crazy woman who always yells at me for nothing, and I have a step-sis who orders me as if I’m her maid. I really wish to get away from them. Anyone feels the same way as me?’

That was posted since a month ago, but no one replied. Aryth sighs lightly, and clicked on the ‘post reply’ button. She brought her hands to the keyboard and types her thoughts down. She pushes the button ‘submit reply’ and closes the website.

That post was made by a person by the nickname ‘TormentedLass’.



Her alarm rang. The sleepy girl quickly woke up from her sleep, yawning and stretching her body. She got up from bed, and scratches her messy head lightly. She turns and heads towards the bathroom, which can only fit in one person.

The girl called Sakie brushes her teeth, washes her face with water, and stares at her reflection in the mirror. She blinks for some time, and takes a towel on a hanger beside the sink. She rubs the water on her face, and went to the small closet to take her uniform. Before changing, she yawns once more.

Sakie’s room is a small one, only a quarter of a standard classroom size. Her bed is a single-sized, and her table only fits her books. She doesn’t have a computer, but she does have a lot of books, especially fictions.

Sakie takes her bag on her chair, and walks out of the room. She puts her bag on the cushion in the living room, and goes into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for her step-mother and step-sister.

She fried some eggs and some hams too. After finishing that, she brought them to the table, and puts the eggs and hams between some bread. Soon, everything is done. But she turns and takes a biscuit tin, and eats the biscuits inside as breakfast.

The house became noisy as two people woke up. Hasue, Sakie’s step-mother, walks to the living room, passing by the kitchen. She glances at the breakfast on the table, and walks away, with an ignorant look. Michiko, Sakie’s step-sister sits on the dining table, with her hair still messy, and she still in pajamas. “Sakie, give me my breakfast.” Even though the food is already in front of her, Sakie still has to serve her sister. “Here. Be careful, it’s hot.”

Michiko snatched it from Sakie, and said to her in an unrespectful way, “I don’t need you to tell me that.” And she took a bite, and yelled out again, “It’s so damn hot! Are you trying to burn my tongue?!” Michiko turns to Sakie, with an angered face.

Sakie puts the tin of biscuit down again, and turns to Michiko. “I’m sorry, sister. It’s my fault.” Sakie is used to her sister saying such unreasonable things to her. But, Michiko is slightly better than Hasue, for her step mother is someone whom she doesn’t want to meet much.

Sakie keeps the tin of biscuits in the cabinet, and walks to her bag in the living room. “I’ll be going to school first, sister, mother.” Before Sakie reaches the door, Hasue called out for her again. She sighed lightly, but heard by Michiko. Sakie puts her bag down again, and hurries to her mother’s room. “Yes, mother? What is it?” Sakie asks, walking into the room.

Hasue shows her a blouse, with a little stain on it. Obviously, the stain is still fresh. “Wash this, now! I have to wear this today, so make it quick!” Sakie takes the clothes from Hasue, and walks to the back of the house, where Sakie washes their clothes. Hasue walks to the dining table, and had her breakfast too. But, the moment was ruined when Michiko told her mother of what happened to her, that her tongue was burnt because of Sakie, and that Sakie sighs when Hasue calls for her.

Hasue stomps to the back of the house, to find Sakie. “Don’t go to school today! I’ll teach you how to pay respect to elders like me and your sister!” Sakie tightened her fists, and continued the washing. Michiko walks to Sakie, and smirks at her. “Gotcha back.” And she giggled, while walking away.

Sakie is used to it now.


That day passed with Hasue beating her with a belt. Sakie got new scars on her skin, but she just kept quiet about it. She goes to school as usual the next day, but managed to escape from her step-mother and step-sister this time.

“SA-KI-E!” Tsuruha called out for her best friend when she sees her walking into the school gates. “Why were you absent yesterday?” Tsuruha asked Sakie, with a bright smile on her face. “I just felt uncomfortable.”

Tsuruha frowns slightly, and quickly grabs Sakie’s right hand, pulling her sleeve up. She could see new scars on her skin. “She beat you again yesterday, right? You shouldn’t hide it, Saki! Come, we’ll go tell Ms. Fumiko!” Tsuruha grabbed her friend’s right hand, and walks towards the teachers’ lounge. “No, Tsuruha, wait!” Sakie stops her footsteps, causing Tsuruha to stop as well. “That’s okay. I cut myself yesterday when I was fixing my broken cabinet. It’s not my mother’s fault.”

“Stop calling her your mother!” Tsuruha said, letting go of Sakie’s hand. Sakie looks at her friend’s concerned face. “You know I must…” “You have to fight back, Sakie! You can’t always be like this! No one can help you if you would just let her do everything she wants to you!”

And there came a gang of students elder than the both of them. “Well, well, well… Who is ‘her’ you’re talking about?” Sakie and Tsuruha turn to see this person, and to their worst fear, it is Michiko. Yet, Tsuruha stood up straight, facing Sakie’s step-sister. “Your damned mother, that’s who!”

That angered Michiko instantly, as she takes her fists up. “What? So, someone’s big mouth is finally opened up, huh?!”

“I never tell you that just because your step-sister is here!” Tsuruha never intended to back off now. “I was going to leave some face for you in front of your younger step-sister!” She continued, seeing as Michiko had nothing to say anymore. “You’re going to get it this time, bitch!”

Sakie quickly stood between them, facing her step-sister. “Stop it, sister. Tsuruha never meant it. Don’t hit her, please. I’ll do anything you request for. Just don’t hurt Tsuruha…”

Tsuruha turns to her best friend, with a sad face. “Sakie…” Michiko lays her fists down, and turns off. “C’mon, girls. We’ll try our very best to think out of something for my LITTLE SIS to do.” The girls together with Michiko laughed along with her, walking away with her as well. Sakie releases her breath, turning to Tsuruha. Tsuruha had an impatient expression on her face.

“I told you, you shouldn’t go along with them! And yet…! Yet…!” Sakie had tears dropping from her eyes to her cheeks, which immediately wipes off the anger in Tsuruha’s face. “Sakie…” Tsuruha hugs her friend, as she weeps.


School finishes early too, so Sakie has her chance to use the school computer to online for free. Tsuruha had to go home early today, because her mother needs her help for an upcoming wedding party.

Sakie first logs in into her messenger, and enter the forum she is in. She opens the message posted since a month ago. Since then, nobody had ever replied her calling. But, for a month straight, Sakie had been looking up to see if anyone does reply. And to her surprise, there is one, posted by a member called ‘LockedFledgling’:

‘I can’t say that I’ve experienced the same thing, but I do know that I felt like leaving them behind, and going into a new world filled with freedom. We can do things whatever we want there, and there are only people whom we love. I want to be an explorer, and explore the whole entire world. But, my parents just wouldn’t understand me. They always locked me up inside my house. I don’t wish to see them every day when I woke up. I want to get out of this life too, wouldn’t you agree?’

Sakie smiles happily, and quickly reply LockedFledgling’s message.

‘Of course I agree with you! I want to be in a world with only me and those I love! I want to be free and not locked up by those who are selfish! I want to be in a world that is created by me!’

After submitting the reply, Sakie quickly adds LockedFledgling’s e-mail in her messenger. But who knows? Just right at the time she was going to click ‘Add contact’, someone added her, and the name is ‘LockedFledgling’.

Sakie receive a message from her just then:

“Hi, nice to ‘meet’ you.”



The both of them turned into great friends just by chatting in the internet. Everyday, Sakie would look forward to online again, to chat with her new friend again. She was told that her name is Aryth.

Sakie uses the computer in school to online again today, as usual after school. She opens the messenger and waits for her friend to online. And, not long after that, Aryth did sign in the messenger.

“Aryth!!!” Sakie typed in the chatterbox.
“Hey, Saki.”
“How are you, Ary?”
“I’m great. ^^”
“Good to hear that.”
“Remember we mentioned about the world that is created by us only?”
“Yeah. Why mentioning that now?”
“I did it. I found the world that we can create ourselves!”

Sakie stopped typing for a while. She was confused of what Aryth was saying to her.

“What…do you mean?”
“Want to meet each other? I can tell you that way easier.”
“Meet? As in face to face?”
“Yeah, Saki. We wanted to meet each other anyways, right?”
“Yeah but…”
“Don’t worry, Saki. I won’t trick you or anything.”
“No, it’s just that… You’re in America while I’m in Japan. How can we meet each other?”
“Silly girl.”
“Huh?”

Sakie frowns, wondering where this will lead to.

“Tonight, look into your email and you will see my mail. Print the content out and copy the picture in the mail and draw it around your bed. When you want to sleep, go to your bed and think of the picture I gave you in the mail. When you open your eyes again, you will see me there. Sorry, I got to go. Meet you tonight, then! Bye!”

That was the end of the conversation. Sakie’s frown still remains, as she signs off the messenger as well, and left the computer room. She left school, and returns back home.



Aryth has class, so she can’t online today. Sophia is, apparently her private tutor as well. “Ms. Aryth, lets start out lesson today, okay? Have you finished your homework for last week?” Aryth sighs heavily, while walking to her table and sits beside her tutor. “Sophia…”

“That is Mrs. Tessa to you, Ms. Aryth. I’ve told you a lot of times, you should call me that when class is starting.” Sophia said, with an acted look of a teacher. “Yes, yes, Mrs. Tessa. I am just wondering, can we talk about dream world today?”

Sophia raises an eyebrow, right after she heard the word ‘dream world’. “Where did you get that from?”

“Books.” Aryth said, grinning. “Oh, okay then. Lets see… Dream world is somewhere people’s minds would enter right after they sleep. Dream world is said to be usually happy, peaceful but sometimes, it can be ghastly or even bizarre. Why did you ask that?”

Aryth shakes her head, with a slight smile. “Nothing. What are we going to learn today?” Sophia sighs lightly at Aryth’s secretive attitude, and turns to the book she carries in her hands. “Literature.”

“Oh man!” Aryth grumbled as she heard the topic of the day.


Three days later, Aryth tells Sakie about the world she managed to create, the dream realm. They agreed to meet each other that night. Aryth is excited, since she could finally meet her friend, Sakie face to face. She is even more excited when she thinks about the times she can spend with Sakie inside that world.

During the night, Aryth goes to her bed as usual, acting as if she is sleeping when her parents and Sophia check up on her.

When everything is clear, Aryth does the same as she did every night.



Sakie enters her room that night, changing into her pajamas and brushing her teeth. She looks at her clock before lying down on her bed. 11.30pm.

Sakie recalls of all the things Aryth told her about this afternoon. She is holding a piece of paper, the printed paper of the mail she received from Aryth and a candle.

The mail mentioned something about a special kind of candle, so Sakie bought it when she was on her way back home. “I wonder why I should use a candle…”

Sakie began to do everything as the mail said. She takes a black pen and wrote the letters in the mail on the candle. The letters were weird, she didn’t know what kind of writing it is but she did it anyways. After that she brings the candle to the side of her bed, and lighted it. Before she sleeps, she stares at the candle. She closes her eyes soon, and slept after some time.

As soon as she sleeps, the candle fire extinguishes.

She opens her eyes again, and found herself in the center of a green field. “Where…am I…?” She muttered to herself, as she turns around to find clues.

Just then, a voice rang.

“Surprise!”

A girl at the same age as her stands right in front of her.

“Did I frighten you, Saki?”

Sakie backed off a little, but immediately stops as she can somehow guess who the girl is.

“Aryth?”
“Yeah! Nice to see you, Saki!”

-----

That was chapter 1. I decided not to join Animax's contest, since they will be buying down the work if won. It's not that I think my work is good enough to win, but just... I didn't felt like joining anymore. Hey, I used up a long time to think for this!

Anywayz, please enjoy chapter 1, and post your comments! Thankz!

I like what I'm reading great work ^_^

Thankies for reading! I'll post the next chapter soon. Not now, since this computer doesn't have the story.

Chapter 2's up! Thanks once more for Blue_Impulse to support me on both stories!



Chapter ii…
…Elysian

Aryth is holding Sakie’s hand, while the two of them run down the small cliff that is filled with green grass, so beautiful it shines as the sunlight shoot rays towards it. The breeze toyed along with their hair and the grass as well.

Sakie is still confused of the place she is currently in now, but Aryth is only smiling, laughing. “I’ll tell you later!” is what she answered to Sakie’s question.

After some time of running, they finally stop. Sakie is panting loudly, for running so much. “Sorry, Saki. I didn’t know it’s that far from here. Let’s rest a little first.” Aryth sits down on the grass, breathing loudly as she herself is tired from all the running too. “Ary…” Sakie still feels weird to be calling out her name. She only talked to Aryth by internet, never face to face. “Where exactly…are we…?”

“This place is out own world, Elysian!” Aryth turns to answer her friends with a bright smile. “What?” Sakie frowns as she stops her panting. “I told you that I found a new world we can create ourselves, right?” Sakie nods at her friend’s statement. “This is it! I only managed to create these, this far. That’s why, I need you to help me finish creating our world, Elysian!” Aryth said, turning forward to feel the strong breeze coming towards them.

Sakie brought her head downwards, with her frown still carved on her forehead. “I still don’t get it, Ary. How can it be possible to have a world we can create?”

“That’s why it’s so great!” Aryth stands up immediately, grabbing Sakie’s hand once more and continues to run. Sakie was about to fall the moment Aryth pulled her, but she managed to keep herself standing straight.

Slowly, she could feel the air passing by them is getting more faster. It’s like they are running even faster than before, until it’s so fast that their speed can even surpass a car’s speed.

Sakie felt weird of the super speed they are at, but keeps quiet about it. After less than a minute, Aryth finally came to a brake. Sakie stops with her as well, and looks ahead.

Sakie’s mouth immediately opened widely. There are flowers petals and leaves falling down to her as the wind blows again. She could see a huge tree in front of her, with other small trees surrounding it. She walks into the small forest of flowers, and enjoys the fragrance the flowers brought. “This place is called Sulvynia.” Aryth explained.

“It’s really beautiful…” Sakie is smiling happily, amazed with the beauty of this scenery. The trees all had various kinds of colors of flowers. Aryth follows up behind her, with her hands behind her back. “It’s nice, right?”

Sakie walks to the biggest tree which is located in the center of the forest. She leans onto it, and closes her eyes to feel with her heart. “It’s like heaven.” Aryth stands right in front of her, smiling, happy to see her friend enjoying it. “It’s not that great… I created this place, since the first book I read since I was small was about flowers. The flowers are so pretty; I somehow got jealous of them.”

“Jealous? Why?” Sakie asks, opening her eyes to look at Aryth. “They are always so beautiful, and…so strong…” Aryth’s eyes narrowed slightly, but her smile remains. “No matter how strong the wind of rain is, they will never turn down. They always face upwards, bravely facing the storm…”

Sakie moved her eyes downwards, then sideways. “You’re really great to be able to create such a nice place…” Sakie turns back to her friend while walking towards her. “Thanks.”

After Aryth thought for a while, “You can do it your own too, Saki.”

“My own?” Sakie thought, frowning slightly.

Aryth nods her head and holds her hand, bringing her out of the forest. They stood in the middle of a plain field. “You just have to close your eyes, imagine the place you want to create, and feel it with all your heart. It’s not so easy, it took me quite some time to get the hang of it.”

Sakie had a slight blush on her face. “Can I…create a kind of creature? I’m not so good at imagining beautiful places…” Aryth nods with a bright smile, excited to see what her friend is going to create.

Sakie closes her eyes, and started to imagine. She tries her best to feel the creature, but still, she couldn’t create anything.

Then only, Aryth voices out, “Oops! Sorry, Saki. Forgot to tell you that, since you’re the…second person who entered this world, you must give descriptions of the things you wanted to create, by talking. Then only, you will be able to create things here.”

Sakie looks slightly disappointed since she had to do more than Aryth. She is also quite embarrassed to tell someone about the creature in her mind. “Erm… The creature looks like a bird, but with light and dark purple feathers. Its tail is…” Before she could finish her description of her ideal creature, Aryth has to cut into her sentence.

“No, Saki. You have to close your eyes and imagine it and feel it too. At the same time, you must tell…I mean explain briefly of the creature’s feature.” Sakie nods at Aryth’s explanation and did as she is told to.

“This creature looks like a huge bird, and has light and dark purple feathers. Its tail is very long and beautifully covered with white and purple feathers. Its beak is yellow in color, just like other birds but instead normal like those birds, the beak is smaller and longer…” Sakie began to feel it with her heart, feel the creature she imagined.

Aryth closes her eyes and tries to imagine one like the one Sakie said. Not long after that, a very bright light shines between the two of them. Aryth had her eyes opened by now, smiling slightly. “Saki, you can open your eyes now.” Sakie takes a deep breath, and opens her eyes to see a figure in the middle of the light. The light fades slowly, showing the creature created by Sakie’s imagination.

“Wow… Still… It’s not exactly the same as the one I imagined… Maybe because I didn’t work hard enough to feel it…” Sakie said, though a little disappointed to see the bird slightly different than the one in her imaginations, she is still amazed by the capability to create her own creature.

Aryth smiles, yet the smile seemed to be filled with sorrow. She tightened her fists, but hides it with a bright smile. “Saki, this world is a world similar to of a dream world. In this world, we can do anything we want! We can create our own world here! That’s why; don’t hesitate to do anything here, okay? We can automatically come to this world if you do the way I called you to do before you go to bed everyday.”

Sakie nods with a slight smile, still feeling quite weird since she couldn’t believe there could actually be the existence of such a world. The huge bird lowers it’s head towards Sakie, as if trying to tell her something. “Your creation wants you to bring to somewhere.” Aryth told her, with a warm smile.

Sakie turns up to see the bird, and touches it’s head. Rubbing it slowly, she walks over to the bird’s back, and sat on the bird’s back as it began to be in a flying stance. “Come on, Ary.”

“Of course. Even if you don’t call me to, I will ride it myself. Heh.” Aryth said, with a cheery tone as she sat behind Sakie. “Lets go.” Sakie talked to the bird gently.

They flew up into the sky and could feel the strong wind that rushed through them. They were unbalanced at first, but slowly they aren’t anymore since this is a dream world, they wouldn’t fall if they don’t want to. At least, if Aryth doesn’t want to.

Sakie is smiling, laughing, enjoying her ride. Aryth could tell, even though she just met Sakie, she could tell that she hasn’t laughed like that in a long time. She felt happy for her friend, since she could do something to bring that smile and laughter back to Sakie’s frown and tears.

“This is great!” Sakie closes her eyes, feeling the cloud that went passed her face. The air is cooling and refreshing, it makes her feel alive. She never had such fun before, ever in her life. This is her happiest moment ever.

Aryth just has a slight smile carved on her face. When she recalled of the event just now, the one when Sakie is about to create the bird, she tightened her fists, and somehow is shivering a little. Sakie couldn’t feel it, since the wind is too strong for her to feel that slight vibration. Aryth quickly get back to her senses, and places a smile between her lips.

“Saki, you created this bird, so what are you going to call it?” Aryth had to make her voice louder, so that Sakie could hear her. “Huh?” Sakie could only hear half of it though. “What I meant is, you created this bird, so it should have a name, right? What are you going to name it?”

“Oh…” Sakie turns down to think for a while, and turns back to Aryth with a bright and satisfied smile. “Phoenix!”

Aryth widens her eyes for a while, and quickly get them back to normal size. “Okay then, phoenix it is.” Sakie smiles at her friend, and turns back forward to continue her bliss.

“Phoenix…it is.” Aryth muttered in a very low voice.


Aryth has been quiet for the whole ride now, but Sakie hasn’t really notice that. When Phoenix finally came to a landing, Sakie jumps down from Phoenix and pats it’s head. She turns to Aryth, who is still currently sitting on Phoenix’s back. “Ary, are you alright?”

Aryth turns to see her friend, and nods her head. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Lets go to the second place, then.” Sakie extends her hand for Aryth to reach. Aryth looks at her hand, and it took her some time to catch it.

The two of them walked on the field, slowly. Sakie is enjoying the walk, while Aryth is still thinking about something, something that is making her very down. “I don’t know why… Before I came here, I was always so down… I seldom smile, I seldom laugh… It’s like, my life is just full of unhappiness. But now that I’m here, I just feel so…energetic!”

Sakie spoke in a soft tone, just as she usually did. She didn’t got an answer from Aryth, so she turns her attention to her friend. “Are you alright, Ary? You seemed so down.”

Aryth turns to Sakie, and shakes her head.

Yeah… Why am I so down…? I should be happy, now that I’m here… At least…, for now. Yeah… I should be happy when I can, when I have the chance…

Aryth smiles brightly, looking at Sakie. “Nothing, just thinking about something. Come on. I’m going to show you something I created out of the blue! Though it’s not really something, but you should see it!”

Aryth returns her normal self, and runs towards their destination with Sakie’s hand on hers.

They run together with smiles and laughter.


Aryth came to a stop, when the air is turning colder. “Weird… I’m feeling…cold.” Sakie said, shivering slightly as a breeze of cold and dry air blew her face.

“If you’re not shivering, then you’re weird.” Aryth said, laughing out loud as she turns to see their destination. “There’s Winter Chorale, a place where it always snow.”

Sakie frowns slightly out of confusion. “Winter…Chorale?”

“Yes. Come and I’ll show you.” Sakie grabs her friend’s hand, as they walk together to towards the cold place. They aren’t wearing any scarf or jackets, so they are feeling very cold. “The trick is, don’t think cold, Saki.” Aryth said to Sakie in a low tone, to create the atmosphere. “Just think that, you’re in some place warm…”

Sakie nods her head, and closes her eyes, to imagine heat. She let Aryth’s hand guide her way. Sakie could feel, the ground of grasses slowly turns into pile of snow. But somehow, when she focused her mind into not thinking cold, she felt warm.

Aryth stops the walking, and turns to Sakie. She lets go of Sakie’s hand, and bends down to the ground to reach for some snow. “Saki, open your eyes now!” As Sakie opens her eyes, Aryth throws a huge snowball to her face, which causes her face to be half white with snow.

Aryth’s laughter caused Sakie to have a thought of revenge. So, she bends down to get some snowballs as well, and throws all of them at once at Aryth. “Take that!” She said, slightly louder than her normal voice.

Aryth managed to dodge everyone of it, but the last one was threw by Sakie again after some time, and hits her opened mouth. Some snow went into her mouth, and Aryth quickly spits them out.

“Why you…!” Aryth took a huge ball of snow, but before she can throw it to Sakie, Sakie threw another one at her face. Sakie laughs continuously, and Aryth quickly grabs some snow to create smaller snowballs to throw at her friend.

They spent their time there, having a snowball fight. They had fun, very much fun.

After some time, they got tired and lie down on the snow. Sakie moves her hands and legs. “I saw it television that the character always move their hands and feet like this to create a snow angel.” Aryth got up from lying on the snow, to see the snow angel Sakie created. She laughed so loudly right after she sees the snow angel Sakie created. It was a mess. “How come?! I did it just like the characters in the movie!”

“Stop laughing!” Sakie said to Aryth, with an unsatisfied look, just like a small child. “But the shape is just so funny!!!” Aryth struggles on the ground, laughing and laughing. Sakie lets her friend laugh all she wants, while she grumbles slightly.

When Aryth stops the laughter, she got up again from the snow. “Let’s go to the next few places before we awake in the reality!”

Aryth brings Sakie to all the places of the four seasons, Spring Nocturne, Summer Fantasia and Autumn Serenade. Each place represents different seasons.

Right after they finished visiting those places, the two of them lied down on the field, filled with green grass. They look up to the sky, and see the shape of the cloud. “Hey, Saki, I can see your Phoenix up there.” Aryth said, pointing to a bird-like shape cloud. “Yeah… I can see it too.” Sakie said in her usual low voice, while turning her attention to the other clouds.

“Ary, how long can we stay here?” Sakie asks out of the blue. “There’s no limit of how long we want to be here. We can go back to reality anytime we want, just by entering the Doorway to Reality. But if you want to come here again, you just have to do the same thing you did today to come here. This place is two times slower than the reality, so 12 hours in the reality equals to 24 hours here.”

Aryth’s explanation is still half understood by Sakie, but Sakie still couldn’t believe that she is in a world where she can do whatever she wants.

“15 hours and 26 minutes have passed since you came.” Aryth said, somehow knowing that even though she doesn’t have a watch or anything to tell.

“That long?! Then that means more than 7 hours have passed! I’m going to miss school if I don’t get up!” Sakie quickly stands up, looking around to find an exit. “Saki? What do you mean?”

Sakie turns down to reply her friend, since she knew she couldn’t find the Doorway to Reality by herself. “If what you said is right, then it’s around 7.30am! My school starts at 8 so I have to leave here now.”

Aryth finally recalled then. “Oh yeah! I forgot! I thought you didn’t have school like me. Come on, Saki.” Aryth got up and holds Sakie’s hand, while she whistles towards the Sulvynian forest. A huge bird flew out from the forest, flying towards them with great speed. It’s Phoenix.

Sakie wonders how come Phoenix can understand Aryth’s every command. But, she didn’t have time to ask. When Phoenix landed, the two of them jump onto Phoenix’s back and head towards the Doorway to Reality.

On their way back, Sakie could hear the sound of a waterfall, not far away, but soon, she couldn’t hear it anymore, since Phoenix is flying very fast. Not for long, they reach to the Doorway to Reality. It is just like a door, but a huge one, colored in white.

“Turn the doorknob and walk in. Then, you will return to the reality. Come back again tonight, okay?” Aryth said to her friend, as Sakie nods her head with slight smile, opening the door.


Sakie opens her eyes, and she finds herself lying on her bed. She turns to the clock beside her, and the time shows 7.28am. She hurries to get ready for school, and left the house without any prepared breakfast for Michiko and Hasue.

She just forgot to. And, she forgot to notice the candle beside her bed as well, that is not there anymore.

hey sorry for my lateness :hehe:
I'll read this and the Perpetual tomorrow

Hey, chill. It's not like I forced you to read it. XD

I already read the first half so I'll read the another half tomorrow

Lol, alright. Is it too long..?
Oh by the way, you don't have to read it if you don't want to. :lol':

no its not long lol I have little time on me :P
I like reading your stories its really interesting ^_^ your improving every time ^_^

Yay! *runs around*
Hyper currently. Watched too many episodes of Princess Tutu.

Chapter iii…
…Sakie

Sakie runs towards her class just as she steps into the school gate. She managed to get to her seat in class right before the bell rings. She pants lightly, trying not to let anyone hear it. “Hey, Sakie. Woke up late this morning?”

Sakie turns up to face her friend, whom she could recognize just by her voice. She nods while panting. “When did you go to bed last night?” Before Tsuruha could get an answer from Sakie, the teacher opens the door and walks in.

“Now class, get back to your seats.” It is Ms. Fumiko.

Everyone hurries back to their seats, including Tsuruha who sits in the other side of class from Sakie.

“Today, we’re going to learn something about a famous poet, Edgar Allan Poe.”


The class is going for an hour by now. For the whole time, Sakie isn’t listening somehow, in class. Her mind wanders off to the dream world she entered yesterday night.

A dream…? All just a normal dream…?

She keeps on asking herself in her mind.

It’s all too real to be a dream, yet… It’s too unreal to be the reality…

She has a conflict with herself, in her mind. All those things that happened, she meeting Aryth in some place similar to of a dream world, according to Aryth, whom Sakie thinks is no more than her online friend.

She puts her head on her right hand, looking beyond the windows on the left hand side of the class, towards the sky outside. She stares at the clouds, remembering something that happened in her dream. Something about looking up to the sky with Aryth.

“…Of a demon in my view. I quite enjoy this poem, since Edgar explains his thoughts of his childhood, being lonely. So, I want to know what YOU guys think of it. Now, let’s see…” Ms. Fumiko turns her eyes to scan the whole class, from the right hand side of the class, to the left hand side. Everyone who sits in the right side of the class releases their breath of relief.

“Ms. Yasura then.” Ms. Fumiko had her eyes set upon Sakie, who is still day-dreaming. Tsuruha quickly turns her attention towards her mesmerized friend.

“Ms. Yasura? Sakie-chan?” called out Ms. Fumiko, while she begins her footsteps towards her student. The girl behind Sakie pokes her back, which causes her to come back to her senses, when she hears her name being called once more.

Sakie quickly stands up, biting her lips. She didn’t listen to Ms. Fumiko’s question just now; she didn’t even know what they are learning. “Yes…, Ms. Fumiko…?”

“You aren’t listening to what I was saying right, Sakie-chan?” Sakie nods with a blush, embarrassed of her own act. “What are you thinking then? Your love life?” The class laughs at Ms. Fumiko’s statement. Sakie blushes even more at that. “No…” Her soft mumble caused her to be ignored.

Ms. Fumiko walks back to the front of the classroom, turning back to give Sakie permission to sit.

Sakie sits down, and sighs heavily.

The school day just passed like that.


When recess time comes, Tsuruha quickly walks over to Sakie, right after the teacher left class. “Sakie, what happened to you today? Usually, you’re the best at listening in class. You didn’t even listen at all to Ms. Fumiko’s class today! You were her favorite student. What happened really? First, you woke up late. Second, you didn’t even listen in class. Now, you’re being so quiet!”

“I’m always quiet, Tsuruha.” answered Sakie, in a low voice.

“Well yeah, but…”

“I’m fine, Tsuruha. I was just…doing some thinking.” Sakie doesn’t seem to be there when she said that, her mind seems to be somewhere else already.

Tsuruha had a thought that came rushing into her mind. “Wait, did she hit you again yesterday? Or even today?” Tsuruha asks with a concerned tone, but was somehow knocked off by Sakie’s ignorance.

Sakie just shakes her head, slowly.

Suddenly, someone stands in front of them, blocking their way.

Guess who? Michiko.

“Hey, SIS. Where is breakfast today, huh?!” Sakie turns up to face Michiko, and as she remembered, she quickly backed off few steps. “I…I forgot…” She mumbled in a very low voice, but Michiko and Tsuruha heard it.

Tsuruha stands between Michiko and Sakie, just as Michiko is going nearer to Sakie. “Who do you think you are? Why must Sakie always serves you breakfast?”

Michiko places a glare at Tsuruha, while raising her fists. “It’s none of your concern, bug. Now, get away!” Michiko pushes Tsuruha away, but Tsuruha stands back. “Get away, you bitch!” Michiko yelled at that point.

Sakie places her hands on Tsuruha’s shoulder, trying to hold her back. “Stop it, Tsuruha. This is my own business.” Sakie whispers to Tsuruha, but Tsuruha ignored her.

“I have always calmed myself, whenever I see how you and your mother treated Sakie. You guys seemed like pigs to me every time, calling Sakie to do every of your dirty work!”

“Why you!” Michiko grabs Tsuruha’s collars tightly, causing her to stand on her toes. This got the attention of everyone in the corridor. All eyes were focused on them. “You know what? If you don’t use your mouth that much, then maybe you would have a better life!” Before Michiko could have her punch on Tsuruha, Tsuruha bites her hand.

Michiko lets go of her, and gets her fist up high. “You bitch!”

“Stop it!” Sakie quickly stands in front of Tsuruha, closing her eyes tightly, afraid that the punch might hit her.

“What are you guys doing?” Ms. Fumiko stands straight and tall, with her hands folded in front of her chest. Her spectacles makes her look smart, but her strict look makes her look even smarter.

She walks towards Michiko and Sakie and Tsuruha. “Fighting in school, huh?”

“She started it, teacher!” Michiko said, pointing at Tsuruha and Sakie. Ms. Fumiko turns her eyes to the two of them.

“B-But…!” Before Tsuruha could say anything, Sakie turns to her and shakes her head. Ms. Fumiko analyzed the situation, and walks ahead. “Come with me, Ms. Yasura and Ms. Kiore.” Sakie walks ahead, with her head facing downwards.

Tsuruha doesn’t want to make her first step. Her fists are tightened, but she knows she can’t do anything now. “Tsuruha!” Ms. Fumiko calls out for her one more time, seeing as she didn’t move from her spot.

Tsuruha follows behind Sakie, as all eyes of the people in the corridor focuses on them.


The two of them are standing, facing Ms. Fumiko who is sitting on her chair. There are only some teachers left in the lounge. Most of them went to their classes already. “Why are you guys fighting with that girl just now? You should know better that fighting isn’t allowed in school.”

Tsuruha still isn’t satisfied of Michiko’s escape from this, while Sakie is just so confused whether she should just tell the truth or not. If she is to tell the truth, Michiko would surely get scolded by the teachers and Sakie will be done by then.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Fumiko. This has nothing to do with Tsuruha. I’m the only one who is wrong. Michiko had done nothing too, so please; don’t bring them along in this.” Well, at least some part of what she said is right, according to Sakie.

Ms. Fumiko nods her head, and turns to Tsuruha, who is currently looking at Sakie with a frown. “Now, Ms. Kiore, what do you have to say for yourself? Tell me, are you involved in this?”

Tsuruha turns to Ms. Fumiko with a nod. “I didn’t want to see her suffer under the hands of her mother and her sister!” Before she could continue, Ms. Fumiko stops her with her hand raised up. “Alright, Tsuruha-chan, you may return to class now. Tell your teacher in class that Sakie would be back soon.”

“But…” “That’s alright; Sakie is going to be fine with me.” Tsuruha thought for some time, and nods her head while walking away.

As Tsuruha left class, Ms. Fumiko turns to Sakie. “Tell me the truth. I know what you said to me isn’t all true.”

Sakie never answered her teacher’s question. She stands in front of her, head facing downwards, tears almost dropping down. Ms. Fumiko looks at her student with concern, and stands up as well. “Let’s go and talk outside, hm?”

Ms. Fumiko and Sakie walk together along the hallway outside the school, towards the school field. “You know, Sakie-chan, I used to study in this very school too, in the very same classroom as you.” Ms. Fumiko turns up to see the sky that hasn’t changed since she was young too. “Lots of different things happened back then. Some good, some not.”

“And at that time, I was one of those lazy and ill-mannered students, but somehow I’ve always scored great results. Teachers never liked me when talking about homework and discipline, but when we meet outside in the streets, they are all very good to me. Lots of things happened back then… Things that I can never forget.”

“I know you have a lot of things happening in your life as well, actually everyone does. But it depends on one’s character. If that person is to see things in a positive way, they will live their lives to the fullest. But if the other way round, the person might be turning their backs from reality and do some silly things. I hope you’re not one of them.”

Sakie never had the guts to face her teacher. For a few times already since she wanted to pour her tears out, but never did.

“Tsuruha-chan is one of those positive-thinking students. She never complained about her life, even though her family is facing lots of crisis on money. She worked part-time but she never complained on how hard it is. Sakie-chan, Tsuruha-chan is a very good example to you so I hope you make her as your role model.”

“Tsuruha-chan has been the only child since she was 4, when her younger brother died in an accident. Her father lost all the money because he was tricked, and her mother is too old to work now. But, Tsuruha-chan never said anything about how hard it is. She believes that if one wants to achieve a happy life, one must fight for it and work hard for it. That’s why she has always been protecting you, Sakie-chan.”

“To her, you’re like her younger sister. When you faced something harsh, you look for her for advices and words of comfort. And, I know very well that, Tsuruha-chan felt very happy to be able to place a true smile on your face. Smile more, Sakie-chan, and that will surely make her happy.”

Ms. Fumiko said to Sakie in a gentle tone, as the bell rings suddenly. “Oh, I have a class after this. I have to go now. Sakie-chan, you get back to class, okay?” Sakie nods and bows to her teacher before Ms. Fumiko leaves.

Sakie looks over to the empty school field, and as the wind blows, she closes her eyes to feel it to the fullest.


When Sakie reach home in the late afternoons, she was confronted by her step-mother, with a face of rage and anger. “Where are you this morning, young lady?” She asks in a rather mad tone.

“I went to school.”

Sakie got slapped on the face, very hardly. “Without breakfast prepared?!” Sakie could feel the stinging feeling on the left side of her cheeks. Her fairly white skin immediately turns red.

She didn’t give anymore words. She knew if she talks more, she’ll get beaten up more. “This is a warning, I tell you, Sakie Yasura. One more time and you’ll be living in the streets!”

When Hasue walks away, only then Sakie returns to her room. She runs to her bed, and lies down on it, with her tears pouring down from her eyes.

She recalled of what Ms. Fumiko said to her, ‘Smile more, Sakie-chan.’

Sakie shakes her head, with her tears rolling down her cheek to her pillow. “How can I smile?! How can I smile with such a life!” She keeps on repeating the same thing, but covers her mouth with her pillow so that Hasue could not listen to her.


When night falls, Sakie prepares dinner for her step-mother and step-sister. Her eyes were red, but they never even give a damn about it. She didn’t have her dinner, and went straight to bed after she finished washing the dishes and finishing all the chores.[Even though she went to bed straight, it’s already quite late.] When she lies down on her bed, she remembered of Aryth, and the world she was in when she was sleeping last night.

“Is that even…real…?” She muttered to herself, and got up from her bed. She tries to remember what she did last night. She remembered holding a paper, which Aryth mailed to her. She opens her drawer, and sees that the paper is still there.

Sakie takes the paper out, and read the content. It’s just as the same she remembered.

She takes a candle out from a box in her drawer as well, writing something on the candle and lighting it up. She walks to her bed, and puts the candle beside her bed. She takes a glance of the time shown by the clock first, as she lies down, and tries to sleep. Soon, she slept, and the candle fire extinguishes. She slept at 11.57pm.


Once again, when she opens her eyes, she finds herself lying down on the center of a green field. This time, the Doorway to Reality is behind her.

She stands up, and remembered this place. It’s the exact same place she was in last night’s dream. So, it’s not just a simple dream! It’s a dream world she can come anytime!

...

Chapter 3.
After some brief reading, I found my writing to be amateur.
Sigh. But I'm busy with exams(again) these days. I'll have to edit the story only at October. Huge huge exams ahead.
*sigh*